Gypsy - Book 3 of The Academy Kids Series

Mchottie Conversation

Isaiah

Running into Gypsy at Toys R’ Us felt like fate smiling down on me. Something about her entranced me from the moment I saw her dancing in front of the hospital. She seemed so ethereal and graceful and okay, yeah, gorgeous as hell.

“Hey, can I store this stuff here till I can wrap it?”

I’d been mildly annoyed that I’d needed to rush off that day. I think I’d gone back to that square every day that week to try to find her again. Then Micah and Wes both mentioned this girl they’d met who’d just stolen their breath. Okay, yeah, those are my words not theirs, but still that was the sentiment.

“Helloooo?”

It’d taken a bit but we’d figured out just recently that we were all talking about the same girl. I don’t know how Micah and Wes felt about it. I didn’t even know how I felt about it, to be honest. We’d yet to really talk about it. I don’t think we thought it really mattered since she hadn’t seemed to make any overtures to any of us.

“Hey!” A sharp slap to the back of my head made me wheel around and glare, only to pull it back as I took in the tiny, annoyed blonde in front of me.

“What?” I asked Lesia.

She shot me a look I knew meant I was walking on eggshells. “Scott was talking to you.”

Oh. I knew that. I’d heard it. I just hadn’t realized my brothers weren’t out here to answer.

“Uh, sorry.” I ran a hand across the back of my neck and shot Scott an embarrassed look. “Yeah, no prob. I can show you where I’m storing my gifts.”

Lesia followed me to my stash point with the stuff Scott bought for his smaller siblings, then we joined everyone in the kitchen. Wes was, predictably, making sandwiches. My brother loved sandwiches. He’d put nearly anything between two slices of bread and loved coming up with all kinds of crazy concoctions. Most were surprisingly good. The ones he was currently making were a family favorite though, and one we’d only recently discovered we owed to Scott’s mother, grilled cheese with apples and bacon. I don’t know if the bacon was original or if it was added later, but I knew they were incredible.

My mind still swirled around Gypsy and I must have lost myself in thought since the next thing I knew Micah clapped his hands in my face. I jumped and nearly tumbled off my stool.

“Zay, where are you today? I asked you a question?” The look of concern marring features identical to mine paired with the childhood nickname made me berate myself. Micah took the whole “family first” thing super serious and since he was technically the oldest, he thought he needed to take care of all of us. Sweet but annoying since I was only 8 minutes younger.

“just thinking, Mia.”

Micah grimaced at the use of his own childhood nickname.

“Well, now that I have your attention. What do you think? You know girls. Will she expect me to call her or should I wait and see if she calls me?”

I went still, only my eyes blinking at him. Micah wanted to call Gypsy? My Gypsy? And what kind of dumb question was that? I knew Micah flirted without being serious but I didn't realize his total lack of dating might make him clueless about it. Before I could respond though Wes’ normally happy expression twisted into a scowl.

“She had my number first.” He stated that fact like it solved everything. A choked laugh made us all turn our heads. Lesia stood cuddled against Scott, laughter shining in her eyes. Scott’s shoulders shook, his face buried in Lesia’s back. 

“Oh my god, you guys.” Lesia gasped the words out between laughter.  “One girl, three guys all attracted to her. Seriously? You can't see what's happening here? And you're seriously about to fight over her?”

I'm pretty sure we were all giving her identical looks of shock. Why did it take her to point out the obvious?

“Can I just point out that I wasn't going to fight?” Micah spoke up before Wes or I could respond. Wasn't going to fight? What was all that question about if not wanting her for himself?

“I mean, you guys all know my true partners thing.” Micah shrugged as he met first mine, then Wes’ eyes. “If we're all attracted to her that just proves my point.”

Oh good grief, I'd forgotten about his true partners thing. He'd never stop gloating.

“Wait,” I glanced at Micah and Wes, who'd just joined us after giving everyone their lunch. “you guys want to try a relationship like our parents? Uh, you do remember some of the stories about how hard that was, right? And how do we even know she'd be open to that?”

“She would,” Wes interrupted me. “She likes Reverse Harem anime.”

“Liking a type of show and actually living it are completely different.” Wes had always been on board with Micah’s crazy theory but I’d figured our parents were an extreme exception. Things didn't work that way normally.

“You know you guys don't have to decide now,” Scott said around a mouthful of sandwich. “Why don't you each ask her out and see what happens. You don't really know her yet.”

Lesia’s phone rang and she walked out if the kitchen to answer it. My eyes meet Micah’s and the whole conversation took place in about 1.5 seconds.

We were doing this and not just asking her out. We were going to make this work, us and our Gypsy. Whatever it took, because for Micah and I there was no going back. I didn't need to look at Wes to know he felt the same.

“Whatever you decided, you're going to have to table it,” Lesia said as she strode back into the kitchen. “Avery just called and we need to meet him about a new mission.” Avery was acting as our liaison with the council at the moment until he was old enough for a team. What on earth did they want from us right now? We were supposed to be on temporary pause since we had an injured teammate.

I gave a nod to Micah, letting him know I was on board. Whatever it took to see our Gypsy again because I was already hooked.